Follow Apologetics Index:

Twitter

RSS

Google+

Teen Mania -- Research Resources

Apologetics Index breadcrumbs You are here: Apologetics Index | Teen Mania | Teen Mania -- Research Resources

Information about Apologetics Index research resources

This article is a stub. More resources may be added over time.

Organization: Teen Mania Ministries
Founded: 1986, by Ron and Katie Luce. Ron is president of the ministry
Location: Garden Valley, Texas
Religion: Reportedly Evangelical Christian. Some concerns have been expressed about Ron Luce's possible promotion of contemplative spirituality. The ministry's Statement of Faith is straightforward, but little is known about the organization's actual beliefs and practices.
Associated names:
- Acquire the Fire (ATF)
- Battlecry / Battle Cry Campaign
- Center for Creative Media
- ESOAL (Emotional Stretching Opportunity of A Lifetime)
- Extreme Camps
- Global Expeditions
- Honor Academy
- School of Worship
In 1996 Teen Mania relocated from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Garden Valley, Texas, after purchasing the property that was formerly the location of gospel singer Keith Green's Last Days Ministries.

Teen Mania Ministries is an Evangelical Christian youth organization located in Garden Valley, Texas. Teen Mania focuses primarily on four key programs, with a few additional smaller endeavours.
Its primary program includes the Battle Cry Campaign and "Acquire the Fire" events, described by one writer as "a mix of pep rally, rock concert and church service,"[1] that are held in over 30 cities across the United States and Canada each year.
Next, the ministry focuses much of its energy towards its domestic and overseas mission trips, operated under the title "Global Expeditions".
Teen Mania also operates a one-year-long residential leadership training program on its campus, titled the Honor Academy, aimed towards high school graduates, and college students.
Finally, Teen Mania's media branch of the organization works as a separate unit, titled the "Center for Creative Media", which provides a two-year internship for students desiring to work in live events, new media, television, and audio fields of the media industry.
Teen Mania also has a separate Canadian division titled Teen Mania Canada, to handle Canadian inquiries, and donations.
Teen Mania is a member in good standing with the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) and adheres to all policies, procedures and reporting guidelines of the ECFA, IRS, and CCRA. Ron and Katie Luce do not receive royalties for any product that is sold through the ministry or used for fundraising or other promotional purposes by Teen Mania.[2]
- Source: Teen Media, Wikipedia entry. Last accessed Saturday, June 19, 2010 - 5:34 PM CET

Articles

Teen Mania Goes Contemplative [Contra] Lighthouse Trails Research
Ron Luce’s Teen Mania and meditation promoter Liz Babbs are resonating with each other, and the connection is meditation. [...] In the interview between Babbs and Luce, she tells Luce how meditation can be done and can include repeating the name of Jesus over and over in order to rid oneself of distractions and really hear God. What this means is that Teen Mania’s “millions of young people worldwide” may ultimately be introduced to mysticism.

Financial

Teen Mania Ministries Listing at ECFA, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability

Teen Mania Ministries, Inc. Listing at MinistryWatch.com

Websites

Acquire the Evidence [Contra] "Responding to Teen Mania's 'Battlecry' Campaign"

My Teen Mania Experience [Contra] "life at the Honor Academy and beyond" Blog by an individual who considers the environment at Teen Mania's Honor Academy to be "spiritually abusive." While not considering it to be a "full blown cult," she does refer to its "cult-like culture."
So, do I think the Teen Mania Honor Academy is a cult? Based on the criteria, I would say that Teen Mania falls a bit shy of being an actual full blown cult. However, their cult-like culture is definitely a spiritually abusive environment. For many, it takes years to recover. Sadly, some never recover.
To read specific allegations made by former interns you can peruse the "True Stories" category or read the summary here.
The nature of the Acquire the Fire conferences are very different from the Honor Academy. I did meet the Lord at an Acquire the Fire conference, as I know many do, so I am hesitant to say anything profoundly negative about it. Like anything else, it has its issues. However, I am much more concerned with the effects of a year long program like the Honor Academy and will limit this blog solely to the discussion of the internship.
If you are thinking about attending the Honor Academy, or if your child is thinking about attending, this blog is for you. I am not writing this because I am bitter, but because I want to spare others the pain of spiritual abuse that I and many, many others have experienced.

Recovering Alumni Response [Pro] A response by David Hasz, Executive Vice President, Teen Mania Ministries and Executive Director, Honor Academy -- and by the Teen Mania Board of Directors to "My Teen Mania Experience" (RecoveringAlumni.com). Includes a letter from board member Jack Hayford, and a letter from a clinical psychologist.
In January of 2010 a committee of the board was being established to review the concerns of former students. The April board meeting agenda would consider changes to the HA protocols if needed. We have asked experts in several disciplines to review the HA program in areas such as curriculum, theology, medical, psychology and leadership. I can assure you that a committee was established and several experts were asked to weigh into the items listed above as well as the items identified in the letters.
Note: See Also Who Was on Teen Mania's Honor Academy Review Committee? [Contra]
The letter from the Teen Mania Ministries Board of Directors alludes to a "committee" of "experts" being formed, but they fail to mention who was on this investigative committee, or even how many people were on the committee. Were the "experts" completely unbiased? Do they get a paycheck from Teen Mania Ministries? Were any current or former teenage interns on the review committee? We just don't know...because Teen Mania doesn't tell us. We're just asked to rely on their "assurance," as demonstrated by the quote at the top of this blog post. We can't even tell who said "I can assure you..." since the letter is simply signed by "Teen Mania Board of Directors." That's not very assuring if you ask me.

Teen Mania Ministries [Official website]
To provoke a young generation to passionately pursue Jesus Christ and to take His life-giving message to the ends of the earth!
- Source: Purpose
Teen Mania is not affiliated with one specific denomination, but works with all denominations. Each year, youth groups from over 50 denominations attend the Acquire the Fire youth events. We believe strongly in creating unity within the Body of Christ. To truly make a difference on this generation, the largest teenage generation in history, we must partner together.
- Source: Beliefs

Teen Mania Watch [Contra] "Keeping a watchful eye on the world of Teen Mania Ministries"
Teen Mania Watch is a small group of individuals dedicated to exposing the truth...good, bad, and ugly...about Teen Mania Ministries, Global Expeditions, Acquire the Fire, BattleCry, the Honor Academy, and Ron Luce.

Bookmark, Share, Print or Email This Page

More About...

Topic: Teen Mania

Comment

Responses are currently closed, but you can comment on your own website, blog, or elsewhere (e.g. Google+, Facebook) and include a 'trackback' link to this page.
Note: If the current entry includes a Table of Contents (top, right-hand corner), the comments section is located on the first page of the entry (and may indeed be open. Do check.) Also, on some entries, the comments section is located on a separate page. Again, see the topic's Table of Contents -- if included.

Subscribe to Apologetics Index updates via RSS news feed or email

Subscribe: